Manchester City winger and Premier League winner Riyad Mahrez has led a star-studded Algeria national team squad ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations.

The Desert Warriors head coach Djamel Belmadi has announced his 23-man squad on Thursday set for the tournament in Egypt this summer.

However, surprisingly Montpellier FC forward Andy Delort who had hoped to debut for the Desert Foxes has been left out.

Derlot announced a switch to play for Algeria earlier this month, but coach Djamel Belmadi saw no impact to his team from the youngster, he had played for France at junior levels.

Napoli midfielder Adam Ounas and Baghdad Bounedjah made the cut, Bounedjah netted 39 goals in 21 appearances for Qatari club Al Sadd last season.

Faouzi Ghoulam, Nabil Bentaleb, Saphir Taider, Rachid Ghezzal, Said Benrahma and Ishak Belfodil are the other surprise absentees on the squad.

The team will gather on Monday June 3rd to play two friendlies in Doha against Burundi on June 11 and Mali five days later.

They have been drawn in Group C along with Senegal, Kenya, and Tanzania, they are looking forward to winning the title which they last won in 1990.

Algeria squad

Goalkeepers: Rais M’Bolhi, Azzedine Doukha, Alexandre Oukidja

Defenders: Ramy Bensebaini, Mohamed Fares, Youcef Atal, Mehdi Zeffane, Aissa Mandi, Djamel Benlamri, Rafik Halliche, Mehdi Tahrat

Midfielders: Mehdi Abeid, Hichem Boudaoui, Adlene Guedioura, Haris Belkebla, Ismael Bennacer, Sofiane Feghouli

Forwards: Riyad Mahrez, Adam Ounas, Yacine Brahimi, Youcef Belaili, Baghdad Bounedjah, Islam Slimani